Inboard power unit



Dec. 3, 1935. E, H, FAHRNEY ET AL 2,022,652

INBOARD POWER UNIT l Filed Sept. 50, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY Dec 3 1935- E. H. FAHRNEY E1' AL 2,022,652

INBOARD POWER UNIT Filed Sept. 30. 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 W M A TTORNEY Dec. 3, 1935.

E. H. FAHRNEY T AL INBOARD PQwER UNIT Filed Sept. 30, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 3, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INBOARD POWER UNIT Emery H. Fahrney, Chicago, Ill., and Arthur C. Ziebell, Oshkosh, Wis.

Heretofore, when marine motors were installed in the center of the boat considerable valuable space which could be used for other purposes, was occupied by the motor aswell as the propeller shaft, which latter extended from the central part of the boat. This objection, however, was subsequently overcome to some extent by the introduction of the outboard motor, thus making available the entire room or space within the boat, but as the outboard motors were limited as to output of power, the motors were again placed on the inside of the boat and in the rear thereof. Even then considerable space was necessary to install the same as the propeller shaft extendedtowards the bow, the shaft being broken and reversed to extend to and through the stern, the shafts or sections being connected by means of gearing.

Such an arrangement proved to be very valuable as far as economy of space was concerned, but other troubles were encountered, as it was very diflicult for a boat builder to install and align the engine and propeller shaft in the boat, such difficulties arising among other things from the warpage of the timbers and wood of the boat, causing therefore a reduction of the power of the motor.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to overcome these difficulties and objections and 'to provide improved means for mounting and installing the motor, so that the boat builder and engine builder may complete their work independently with respect to the other, that is by constructing and assembling the motor,prpeller shaft and propeller as a single and compact unit, at the factory, tobe shipped and installed as a unit in the boat. The unit constituting a supporting board which, when the unit is installed, will also form a closure in the boat body through which the propeller shaft extends. The result is that all the boat builder will have to do after receiving the motor unit, is to fasten the closing board fitting in the opening in the boat body, and which supports the motor, Without the necessity of directing any attention to the alignment of the engine, propeller shaft and propeller, the same having been previously aligned by the engine builder before shipment of the unit.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new and useful objects as will appear, the invention consists in the features of novelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings illustrating this invention and in which Figure 1 is a view partly in vertical section, partly in elevation and partly broken away, of the stern of a boat having a motor unit oonstructed in accordance with the principles of this invention mounted therein.

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken on line 2 2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3 3, Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional View taken on line 4 4, Figure 1, on an enlarged scale.

Figure 5 is a detail elevation taken on line 5 5, Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 1, of a modified form of the invention.

Figure '7 is a sectional view taken on line 'I 'I, Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a detail sectional View taken on line 8 8, Figure '7, on an enlarged scale.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the numeral I0 designates generally a boat body of any ordinary construction having in the stern thereof a compartment I I provided with an opening I2 in the top thereof, where access may be had to the interior of the compartment.

The bottom of the compartment is provided with an opening I3 of any suitable size and shape and through which opening a portion of the motor unit and propeller shaft and propeller, to be hereinafter described, project.

The numeral I4 designates a supporting board or base of steel, or any other suitable material, for the motor and is of a size and shape to t within the opening I3 in the bottom of the compartment II. This board is held in position in any desired or suitable manner such as by means of fastening cleats I5 secured to the board by suitable fastening devices I6, a portion of the cleats I5 projecting over shoulders or beams II secured to the boat bottom around the opening I3. and which beams I'I constitute fillers between the cleats I5 and the boat bottom. One edge of the cleats is preferably beveled as at I8 and packing material I9 (see particularly Figure 4) is provided for engaging under the beveled surfaces I8 to form water tight joints. Additional fastening bolts 26 pass through the cleats I5 and the boat bottom for securely fasening the parts in position.

Projecting upwardly above the bottom of the boat and on opposite sides of the opening I3 are ways 2|, preferably formed of timbers of the desired height and these ways extend preferably throughout the length of the compartment II and are preferably inclined as at 22 on their upper edges, for a purpose to be set forth.

The motor designated generally by the reference numeral 23 may be of the ordinary marine type provided with a casing at one end of which, as at 24, is arranged the transmission gearing and at the other end with a ily wheel casing 25. The casing is provided. preferably with laterally projecting flanges 26 and a supporting structure 21 adjacent one'end anda flanged portion 28 at the other end for supporting the casing upon the board I4, suitable fastening devices 29--39 being provided for securing the casing to the board I4.

Depending below and secured directly to the mol tor base preferably beneath the support 21 is a strut 3| which passes through an opening 32 in the board I4 and passing through an opening 33 adjacent the forward end of the motor casing is minimum.

The propeller shaft 35 and propeller 31 are so arranged with respect to the motor casing that when the unit constituting the supporting base I4, the motor casing, propeller shaft and propeller are being placed in position in the boat, they will project through the opening in the bottom of the boat and when the cleats I5 engage' the nller blocks I1, the board I4 will form a closure for the opening in the bottom ofthe boat and will llt within such opening. A water tight joint is formed by means of the packing I9. The motor may also be provided with a controlling lever 38.

With this arrangement the propeller shaft 35 will be connected with the driving gear at the forward end of the motor and the propeller shaft 35 will extend beneath the motor, with the result that the propeller wheel 31 will be located underneath the fly wheel in the casing 25 so as to permit the motor to be installed at the rear end of the hull. Y

With this improvedconstruction it will be manifest that the inboard power unit may be constructed or fabricated at the factory, that is the engine casing, propeller shaft .and propeller may be mounted upon the supporting board or platform I4, with the result that a true alignment of the parts may be obtained by the motor builder. The unit may then be shipped and placed as such in the boat, without the necessity of the employment of an expert in that line. To llt the unit in the boat it is only necessary to position the same so that the board I4 will enter the opening I3 in the bottom of the boat and then secure the same in position by means of the fastening devices or bolts 20.

In this form of the invention the propellerwith slots 49 therethrough, and these wedgeshaped members 39 rest upon the inclined surface 22 of the ways 2I.

A portion of the flange 2G of the motor casing rests upon the wedge shaped members V39, and fastening bolts 4I pass through the flange and also through the wedge shaped members 39 and into the ways 2l'.

shaped members 39 may be adjusted upon the ways 2l, after which the nuts 42 'may be tightened.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure '7,

` the unit consists of a motor 43 having a propeller shaft which passes through a depending casing 44, arranged at one end of the motor so that the propeller shaft will be vertically disposed. A propeller 45 is connected to a shaft arranged horizontally and connected with the vertical shaft by means of suitable gearing (not shown).

In this form of the invention the motor 43 rests upon the ways 46 and is secured in position in any suitable manner. The depending casing 44 passes through a board 4l, suitable packing 48 being provided to form a fluid tight joint and depends .a considerable distancebelow the board 41. The

Y board 41 forms a closure for the opening 49 in the bottom of the boat, and a frame 5U encompasses the opening 49 and thesides of the frame incline downwardly and towards each other. The board 41 is also provided with a frame 5I secured about its periphery, and the diameter of the board 4I is somewhat less than the diameter of the opening 49 so that when the board 41 is placed in position in the opening 49, .a space will be formed between the frames 50 and 5I for the re- Y ception of packing 52. The packing is preferably of a U shaped configuration in cross section andV so arranged that the board 41 entering'the opening in the bottom of the boat will wedge the packing member between the frames 50 and 5 I By loosening the nuts 42 it will be manifest that the wedgeY With this improved construction, and in either form of the invention it will be manifest that the motor unit may be fabricated at the factory, and after the boat builder has completed his work and prepared the openingV in the bottom thereof, the motor unit may be shipped and placed in the boat without the necessity o-f the services of an expert.

The result of this construction is that it will not be necessary for the boat builder to concern himself with the mounting or aligning of the motor and the propeller shaft, as all of these operations will be performed before the unit leaves the factory.

All the boat builder will have to do then is to place the motor in position in the boat with the closure board standing within the opening in the bottom of the boat and then fasten the board in position as well as the motor and provide' the necessary packing to form fluid tight joints. This can be done by the ordinary mechanic, and With such a unit the boat builder and the engine builder will not interfere with the operation of each other. j

This construction also permits of the mounting and arranging of the motor in the stern of the boat and out of the way within a very com-- pact and limited space or area.

While the preferred forms of the invention have been herein shown and described, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of the several parts within the scope of the claims, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed as new is:-

l. As a unitary structure an inboard boat propulsion insertable into and removable from a boat as a unit and comprising a motor, a propeller shaft and propeller connected with the motor, said shaft being gear connected to the forward end of the motor shaft and extendingbeneath the motor to the rear thereof, a bearing secured to the nrotor base and in which bearing the propeller shaft is journaled, said shaft and propeller being projected through an opening in the bottom of the boat as the motor is positioned in the boat and While the motor, propeller shaft and propeller remain intact, a closure for the said opening, means for removably securing the closure in position, and sealing means for the joint between said closure and the wall of said opening, said propeller shaft, bearing and propeller being disposed within the confines of the edges of said closure.

2. As a unitary structure an inboard boat propulsion system consisting of a motor, a propeller shaft gear connected to the forward end of the motor shaft and extending beneath the motor to the rear end thereof, a strut on the motor base in which the propeller shaft is journaled, a propeller connected with the shaft, said propeller being projected through an opening in the boat bottom as the motor is placed within the boat, a closure board for the said opening, said board being disposed between the motor and said propeller and constituting a part of said unitary structure removable with the motor and propeller and insertable into position to close said opening as the motor is positioned in the boat and while the motor, propeller shaft and propeller remain intact, and means for removably securing the closure in position.

3. As a unitary structure an inboard boat propulsion system consisting of a motor, a propeller shaft gear connected to the forward end of the motor shaft and extending beneath the motor to the rear end thereof, a propeller connected with the shaft, said propeller being projected through an opening in the boat bottom as the motor is placed within the boat and while all of the parts of the propulsion system remain intact, a closure board for the said opening, said board being disposed between the motor and said propeller and constituting a part of said unitary structure removable with the motor and propeller and insertable into position to close said opening as the motor is positioned in the boat, means for removably securing the closure in position, and sealing means for said closure board.

4. As a unitary structure an inboard boat propulsion system consisting of an inboard motor, a fixed drive shaft extending from the forward end of, beneath and to the rear end of the motor and adapted to be projected through an opening in the bottom of a boat as the motor is installed, a strut secured to the motor base and forming a bearing for said shaft, a propeller o-n said shaft adjacent said strut, a closure board for the said opening arranged between the motor and said propeller and constituting a fixed part o-f said unit, removable with said System and adapted to be placed in position to close said opening as the motor is installed, the entire propulsion system remaining intact while being installed in or removed from the boat, means removably securing the closure in position, and packing means extending about said board.

5. As a unitary structure an inboard boat propulsion system consisting of an inboard motor, a fixed drive shaft extending from the forward end of, beneath and to the rear end of the motor and adapted to be projected through an opening in the bottom of a boat as the motor is installed, a propeller on said shaft, and all of the parts of the propulsion system being maintained intact during the installation of and the removal of the same with respect to the boat, a closure board for the said opening arranged between the motor and said propeller and constituting a fixed part of said unit, removable with said system and adapted to be placed in position to close said opening as the motor is installed, means removably securing the closure in position, supporting shoulders projecting from the motor casing, supports over which the shoulders project, and wedge shaped members between said supports and said flanges.

6. As a unitary structure an inboard boat propulsion system consisting of an inboard motor, a fixed drive shaft extending from the motor forward end of, beneath and tov the rear end thereof and adapted to project through an opening in the bottom of a boat as the motor is installed, a propeller on said shaft, all of the parts of the propulsion system' being maintained intact during installation and removal of same with respect to the boat, a closure board for the said opening arranged between the motor and said propeller and constituting a fixed part of said unit, removable with said system and adapted to be placed in position to close said opening as the motor is installed, means removably securing the closure in position, supporting shoulders projecting from the motor casing, supports over which the shoulders project, adjustable wedge shaped members disposed between said shoulders and supports, there being slots through said.wedge shaped members, and fastening devices passing through said shoulders .and said slots.

7. As a unitary structure an inboard boat propulsion system consisting of an inboard motor, a supporting board for the motor, a propeller shaft gear connected to the forward end of the motor shaft and extending beneath the motor toward the other end thereof and beneath said board, and a propeller on the shaft, said shaft and propeller being disposed within the confines of the ends of the board thereby adapting said unit for installation at the rear end of the hull and whereby said m'otor, shaft and propeller will be maintained intact and the shaft and .propeller will be adapted to be passed through an opening in the boat bottom as the propulsion system is being installed or removed.

8. As a unitary structure an inboard boat propulsion system consisting of an inboard motor, a supporting board for the motor, a propeller gear shaft connected to the forward end of the motor shaft and extending beneath the motor toward the other end of the motor and beneath said board, a propeller on the shaft, and a strut secured to the motor base adjacent the propeller and in which strut said propeller shaft is journaled, said shaft, propeller and strut being disposed within the confines of the ends of the board, whereby said motor, shaft and propeller will be maintained intact and the shaft and propeller will be adapted to be passed through .an opening in the boat bottom as the propulsion system is being installed or removed.

EMERY H. FAHRNEY. ARTHUR C. ZIEBELL. 

